Automatic golf ball teeing device



E. MEIERJOHAN AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVICE July 7, 1970 4Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 10. 1967 INVENTOR ERNEST MEIERJOHAN A TTORIVEY July 7, 1970 E. MEIERJOHAN AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVICE 4Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 10. 196'? M/VE/VTGR ERNEST MEIERJOHAN ATTOR E)Juiy 7, i970 E. MEHERJOHAN AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVICE 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 10. 1967 FIG-7 IN V5 70/? MEIERJOHAN ERNEST y7, 1970 E. MEIERJOHAN 3,519,275

AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVICE Filed Aug. I0, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 4FIG-l2 W42 lM/ENTOR ERNEST MElERJOHAN BY ae-a5 I04) 2 3% A T TOR/V5 YUnited States Patent 3,519,275 AUTOMATIC GOLF BALL TEEING DEVICE ErnestMeierjohan, 3342 Hanna Ave., Cincinnati, Ohio 45211 Filed Aug. 10, 1967,Ser. No. 659,677 Int. Cl. A6311 57/00 U.S. Cl. 273-201 16 ClaimsABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A golf teeing machine in which driving of agolf ball off the tee actuates a switch to operate a motor through onecycle. A stiff cable connected to the ball tee is reciprocated by themotor. The first half of the cycle lowers the tee below the ground to aball receiving position and the second half of the cycle raises the teeabove the ground to a ball striking position.

This invention relates to an automatic golf ball teeing device, such asmight be used for golf ball driving practice.

An object of the invention is to provide a golf ball teeing deviceembodying structural improvements which assure continuous reliability ofautomatic operation without frequent servicing.

Another object of the invention is to greatly reduce the number ofoperating parts constituting the automatic teeing device, and tosimplify such parts in the interests of economical manufacture andassembly.

Another object is to provide a device of the character stated, whichemploys no delicate parts requiring frequent replacement or adjustmentin order to keep the device in operative condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of thecharacter stated, the power requirement of which is limited toelectricity alone, thereby eliminating costly installation expense andservicing problems.

A still further object is to make possible the use of low voltageelectric power in the controls of the device, thereby ensuring safety ofoperation and conservation of the electrical elements employed in theconstruction thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating mechanism foran automatic ball teeing device, which will never require adjustment ofany parts subsequent to assembly and installation of the device.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of the typereferred to, which cannot be disabled by adverse weather conditions, orabusive treatment.

Another object is to ensure profitable operation of the automatic ballteeing device in commercial use, and to encourage patronage by itsability to perform uninterrupted satisfactory service as expected by apatron or user.

The foregoing and other objects are attained by the means describedherein and illustrated upon the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a ball storage and deliverymagazine adapted for above-ground placement, and supporting the motordrive means of the device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partly broken away, showing a ballelevator and delivery chute.

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the driving mechanism illustrated by FIG.1.

FIG. 4 is a cross section taken on line 44 of FIG. 3.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are views similar to FIG. 4, showing the drive mechanismin different stages of operation.

FIG. 7 is a vertical cross section taken through the ball chute andelevator of FIG. 2, part broken away, and showing a golf ball elevatedto striking position.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, but showing a ball in the process ofbeing elevated to striking position.

FIG. 9 is a vertical cross section taken on line 99 of FIG. 7.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are fragmentary cross sections of a tee element andassociated mercury switch in different positions.

FIG. 12 is a cross section taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 13 is a cross section taken on line 1313 of FIG. 12.

FIGS. 14 and 15 are wiring diagrams showing two alternative positions ofthe motor-driven elevator and ball release control.

FIG. 16 is a detail view in cross section, showing the tee element ofFIGS. 14 and 15 in circuit-closing position.

With reference to the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1; the numeral 20illustrates a golf ball storage magazine of considerabe size, havingside walls 22 uniformly spaced apart a distance slightly exceeding thediameter of a golf ball. Within the magazine a multiplicity of balls mayrest vertically upon one another, for delivery from the magazine bygravity through a pipe or chute 24 fixed in the bottom wall of themagazine. The magazine preferably stands wholly above ground level in avertical plane, with its bottom wall 26 lowermost, and perhaps slopingslightly toward chute 24 if desired. Such sloping of the bottom wall isnot necessary, however.

In a preferred form of magazine 20, a ball agitator (not shown), may beincorporated therein to ensure free movement of balls into chute 24. Theagitator forms no part of the present invention, and need not thereforebe dis closed in detail.

As suggested by FIGS. 2 and 7, chute 24 feeds balls in succession to areceiving chute or chute extension 28 encased within a water-tighthousing 30 which contains a ball release mechanism and an elevator topresent balls successively into driving position above ground level.Housing 30 may be buried in the ground, with its re movable cover oraccess plate 32 exposed at approximate ground level. The housing has abottom wall 34, as shown.

Chute 24 may be aligned with chute 28 to feed balls thereto, and chute28 has an open end 34 for delivery of balls in succession to a tubularelevator shaft 36 disposed vertically within housing 30. By preference,though not of necessity, the tubular elevator shaft may be square incross section as shown, and may be stationarily mounted at one end uponthe bottom wall of housing 30 by means of welds, screws, or otherfasteners. At the location 34, the tubular elevator shaft is sideapertured to receive balls from chute 28. The main chute 24 preferablyis detachably secured to housing 30 at a flange 38, FIG. 7.

A vertically reciprocable elevator member or carriage 40 is slidablewithin the elevator shaft or tube 36, between upper and lower limits,FIG. 7, the shaft or tube 36 serving as a guide therefor. Carriage 40may be elongate, and may fit slidably but non-rotatably within tube 36.Carriage 40 supports at its upper end the normally upstanding ball tee42, to poise a ball for striking or driving by means of a golf club. Tee42 is momentarily displaceable to an angular position when struck (FIGS.7, 11 and 16), so as to close a switch and momentarily complete anelectric circuit, as will be explained.

Carriage 40, herein disclosed as a short length of tubing by way ofexample, carries a fixed laterally extending stud 44 which projectsthrough an upright elongate slot 46 in elevator tube 36. The outer endof stud 44 may carry a roller 48, to serve as a cam follower.

At a location opposite the stud 44, the carriage may be provided withone or more laterally extending studs or screws 50, which projectthrough a second upright elongate slot 52 formed in a wall of tube 36.Studs or screws 50 support a clamp member 54 located exteriorly of tube36, said clamp member being provided as an anchorage for one end of aflexible, but rather stifi, wire or cable 56 reciprocable within asheath 58. A sheath anchor 60 fixes the sheath to tube 36.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that projection of wire orcable 56, in FIG. 9, will act through clamp 54 and studs 50, to lowerthe carriage 40 to the broken line position shown. In the loweredposition of the carriage, ball tee 42 supported thereon, will assume alowered position for receiving a ball from chute 28, FIG. 7. Uponretraction of wire or cable 56 to the full line position of FIG. 9,carriage 40 will be elevated thereby, to project the tee 42 and a ballsupported thereon in position for play. Thus it will be noted that allcarriage movements depend upon a simple reciprocative movement of thewire or cable 56 within sheath 58.

FIG. 1 and FIGS. 3 and 6 illustrate a simple and reliable form of meansto reciprocate the wire or cable 56 for elevating and lowering thecarriage 40 and its associated ball tee 42. Such means may comprise asmall electric motor 60' having a drive shaft 62 rotatable at reducedspeed by means of a speed reduction gear box 64 carried by the motorframe. On shaft 62 is fixed an arm or crank 66, having at its free end aroller or other abutment member 68. Intermediate the opposite ends ofarm or crank 66 is a pivot 70, which provides a pivotal connection withone end of a pitman, link, or drive member 72, the opposite or free endof which as a connection 74 with wire or cable 56.

From the foregoing, it will be understood that one full rotation ofdrive shaft 62 will swing the arm 66 through 360 aegrees, causing pitmanor member 72 to execute one full advancement and one full retraction ofwire or cable 56 within its sheath, to lower and then elevate carriage40 as heretofore explained. Such movements of the cable 56 and carriage40 will be repeated whenever motor 60 is energized according to asequential closing and openingv of the motor circuit, as will beexplained.

With further reference to FIGS. 1 and 3 to 6, the numeral 76 indicatesthe actuating finger of a microswitch 78 or the like, of the normallyclosed-circuit type, whose contacts when closed supply electrical energyto motor 60. Switch 78 may be mounted upon one end of a resilient arm80, the opposite end of which may be fixed at 82 upon a stationarybracket 84. By slightly flexing the arm 80 in one direction about anchor82, as by means of a solenoid or electromagnet 86, the actuating finger76 of the switch may be swung out of the path of movement of roller orabutment 68, thereby to relieve the actuating finger of pressure imposedthereon by the roller. As switch 78 is of the self-closing type, it willclose the circuit of motor 60 as soon as finger 76 is relieved of theroller pressure, thereby initiating a 360 degree rotation of arm 66 ondrive shaft 62.

FIG. shows the switch 78 withdrawn by action of the armature of solenoidor electromagnet 86, to displace actuating finger 76 from the FIG. 4position. Such displacement of the switch and its finger 76 permitsselfclosing of the switch contacts, which in turn starts motor 60 toexecute a full advancement and retraction of pitman 72 and wire 56, tolower and elevate the carriage 40.

As the drive member 66 of FIG. 5 continues to rotate in the direction ofthe arrow, it finally reaches the FIG. 4 position at which roller 68strikes the switch finger 76 to open the switch contacts controllingmotor 60. Motor 60' then stops, with roller 68 remaining in the FIG. 4position to hold the switch contacts open. Any subsequent energizationof solenoid or electromagnet 86 serves to Wi hdraw switch actuatorfinger 76 from the pressing in- 4 fluence of roller 68, as in FIG. 5, toinitiate a cycle of carriage movement as heretofore explained.

All of the mechanism above described may be advantageously mounted upona side wall of magazine 20 as shown, where it is above ground and easilyaccessible. In practice, said mechanism may be covered by a detachableshroud or guard secured to the magazine wall. The bracket 88 may carry asimple transformer 90 supplying a safe low-voltage electric current foroperating the solenoid or electromagnet 86 to be energized through aswitch or contactor 92 which closes a circuit through the solenoid orelectromagnet whenever ball tee 42 is momentarily tilted incident todriving a ball from the tee.

Ball tee 42 may be constructed of supple molded rubber or the like, toprovide an upstanding hollow shank 93, and a base 94 having an annulardepending flange 96. The flange fits snugly into the open upper end ofcarriage member 40, while the base closes said upper end making aWater-tight joint. Upon the lower face 98 of the flexible base may bemounted the electrical contactor 92, preferably in the form of atiltable mercury switch, which upon tilting in one direction closes anelectric gap between the internal ends of conductors 102 and 104embedded in an end of the capsule which forms the body of switch 92. Aball 106 of mercury within the capsule will shift to close the gapbetween the inner ends of conductors 102 and 104 whenever the base 94 isflexed incident to tilting of shank 93 as the shank or a ball superposedthereon is struck by a golf club. In the normal vertical position of thetee, the switch 92 is open-circuited.

In the wiring diagrams, FIGS. 14 and 15, switch 92 is shown in thenormal open-circuited condition. Electric current from line wires 106and 108 may energize motor 60, provided that switch 76 is closed byrelief of pressure imposed thereon by roller 68. The secondary windingof transformer 90 is connected in series with switch 92, and with thecoil of solenoid or electromagnet 86. Therefore, when the tee 42 istilted as the result of driving a ball therefrom, switch 92 willmomentarily close the circuit of solenoid or electromagnet 86, to removethe actuator 76 of switch 78 from the depressing action of roller 68.Relieved of pressure, actuator 76 will spring up to close the contactsof switch 78 (FIG. 15), for completing the circuit of motor 60. Motor 60accordingly will operate to drive the carriage by means of wire or cable56, until roller 68 arrives at the FIG. 14 position to open the contactsof switch 76.

With reference to FIG. 15, switch 78 is shown Withdrawn from theinfluence of roller 68. It must be understood that such withdrawal ismomentary only, due to the brief energization of solenoid orelectromagnet 86 by the momentary closing of tee switch 92. Accordingly,the switch 78, being biased yieldingly away from the armature of thesolenoid or electromagnet 86, will return to the FIG. 14 position. Bythis time, however, roller 68 will have been advanced by rotation ofdrive shaft 62, substantially as depicted by FIG. 5, so as to have nophysical contact with the actuator 76 of switch 78. Once the roller 68has moved from the vicinity of switch actuator 76, as in FIG. 5, thespring biased switch 78 may return to the FIG. 4 position at whichroller 68 will be effective to actuate it only when said rollercompletes its cycle of movement about shaft 62, as shown by broken linesin FIG. 6.

A simple mechanical means is provided for replacing a ball driven fromthe tee. Replacement balls are supplied through the inclined chutes 24and 28, from magazine 20. The feeding of balls is controlled by thevertical movements of carriage 40 resulting from the cyclic energizationof motor 60'. As previously mentioned, carriage 40 carries a roller orcam follower 48 which moves therewith as the carriage travels betweenits upper and lower limits.

The numeral 110 (FIG. 7) indicates a first control arm mounted at oneend upon a fixed pivot 112 carried by chute 28. The free end portion 114of said arm rests normally upon roller 48. A second control arm 116likewise may be pivoted at 118 upon chute 28, and has a free end portion120 in the path of movement of roller 48. Intermediate their ends, thearms 110 and 116 may be yieldingly urged toward one another by aconnecting tension spring 122.

Arm 116 carries a ball release pin or plunger member 124, which by theaction of spring 122 projects normally through an opening 126 in thebottom of chute 28. Member 124 accordingly will normally precludegravitational movement of the leading ball toward elevator tube 36.

The arm 110 carries a ball release pin or plunger member 128, which upondescent of said arm 110 about pivot 112, may enter an opening 130 in thetop wall of chute 28 to intercept a ball following the leading ball.Release pin or member 128 is normally withdrawn from chute opening 130,by reason of roller 48 supporting arm 110 in an elevated position, FIG.7. Spring 123 however, biases arm 110 against the roller 48, so thatupon descent of carriage 40 and roller 48, arm 110 will follow until pin128 fully enters the opening 130 to intercept the second ball in chute28. Further descent of the carriage causes roller 48 to strike anddepress the second arm 116 to the broken line position of FIG. 7,thereby to withdraw pin 124 and release the first ball for entry intoelevator tube 36, whereby this time the tee 42 has been lowered toaccept the released ball according to FIG. 7.

After a ball has been released onto tee 42, carriage 40 rises to itsupper limit and presents the ball for striking. During the upward motionof the carriage, spring 122 acts to elevate the arm 116 and its pin 124,for holding the next ball in position for subsequent release. It will benoted that the arrangement of pins 128 and 124 ensures the release ofbut one ball at a time, during each lowering and elevating cycle ofcarriage 40. As was previously explained, a cycle of carriage movementis initiated by a momentary closing of the contacts of tee switch 92,incident to tilting of the tee when either the tee or the ball thereonis struck by a golf club.

Whereas two springs 122 and 123 are shown anchored at 125 upon chute 28,a preferred arrangement is to omit the anchorage at 125 and employ asingle tension spring spanning the arms 110 and 116 for yieldinglyurging the arms toward one another. In either case, arm 110 normally isyieldingly held against roller 48, and arm 116 is stopped against chute28 at the base of pin 124 until roller 48 descends to lower the arms tothe broken line position, FIGS. 7 and 12.

Arms 110 and 116 move in a common vertical plane alongside the elevatortube 36. It may be noted also that the conductors 102 and 104 for teeswitch 92, are flexible so as to coil near the bottom of elevator tube36 whenever the carriage 40 is lowered. Conductors 102 and 104 mayemerge from housing 30 through a rubber ferrule 132, for connection withthe coil of electromagnet or solenoid 86 and the secondary winding oftransformer 90, in accordance with the wiring diagrams of FIGS. 14 and15. Tee switch 92 is preferably though not necessarily a mercury switch.

The apparatus of the invention utilizes no power other than electriccurrent, and employs no delicate or complex electrical componentsrequiring frequent adjustments or replacements. Moreover, all workingparts which may require attention are readily accessible, and protectedfrom adverse weather conditions or abuse. The device employs a minimumnumber of working parts, which are of simple and durable construction,thereby avoiding any need for frequent servicing, adjustments, orreplacements. The resultant reliability of operation is of primaryimportance in commercial installations.

It is to be understood that various modifications and changes may bemade in the structural details of the device, within the scope of theappended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic golf ball teeing device, which comprises in combination:a chute for delivering balls from a magazine; a ball elevator disposablebelow ground level, including a carriage reciprocable between upper andlower limits, and means for guiding the carriage in said movements; adisplaceable ball tee movable with the carriage, for disposition tolocations above and below ground level; operating means including anelectric motor connected in an electric circuit, for moving the carriagethrough a cycle of downward and upward movement between the limitsaforesaid, upon closing of the motor circuit; electric means including anormally opencircuited contactor closable momentarily upon eachdisplacement of the ball tee, to momentarily close the motor circuit foractuating the operating means aforesaid; means associated with saidoperating means, for maintaining the closed-circuit condition of themotor circuit until the carriage moves downwardly then upwardly to theupper limit of travel, and to then open the motor circuit; and meansoperative during the cyclic move-ment of the carriage between its upperand lower limits, to release a ball from the chute onto the tee, forpresenting the released ball for striking above ground level when thecarriage reaches the upper limit of carriage travel.

2. The device as specified by claim 1, wherein the operating means forthe carriage includes a member reciprocable by the motor; a flexiblecable having one end fixed to said member for longitudinal reciprocationthereby; and means fixing the opposite end of the cable to the carriage,with said opposite end movable in the direction of carriagereciprocation.

3. The device as specified by claim 2, wherein the motor, thereciprocable member, and that end of the flexible cable which is fixedto said member, are located remotely from the ball elevator and aboveground level.

4. The device as specified by claim 3, wherein the combination includesa ball magazine located above ground level for feeding balls to thechute; and means for supporting upon the magazine the motor, thereciprocable member, and a portion of the length of the flexible cabledriven by said reciprocable member.

5. The device as specified by claim 1, wherein the operating means forthe carriage includes a member reciprocable by the motor; a flexiblecable having one end fixed to said member for longitudinal reciprocationthereby; and means fixing the opposite end of the cable to the carriage,With said opposite end movable in the direction of carriagereciprocation; said motor, said reciprocable member, and that end of theflexible cable which is fixed to said member, being located above groundlevel.

6. The device as specified by claim 5, wherein is included a ballmagazine located above ground level for feeding balls to the chute; andmeans for supporting upon the magazine the motor, the reciprocablemember, and a portion of the flexible cable.

7. The device as specified by claim 1, wherein the operating means formoving the carriage includes a flexible cable longitudinallyreciprocable by the motor aforesaid, said cable having an end secured tothe carriage for reciprocation longitudinally of the path of carriagemovement.

8. An automatic golf ball teeing device, which comprises in combination:a chute for delivering balls from a magazine; a ball elevator disposablebelow ground level, including a carriage reciprocable between upper andlower limits, and means for guiding the carriage in said movements; adisplaceable ball tee mounted upon the carriage for movement tolocations above and below ground level; operating means including anelectric motor connectable in an electric circuit, for moving thecarriage through a cycle of downward then upward movement between thelimits aforesaid, upon closing of the motor circuit; means operativeincident to displacement of the ball tee, for closing the motor circuitand thereby energizing the motor to effect a single cycling of thecarriage first downardly then upwardly; and means operative during thecyclic movement of the carriage between its upper and lower limits, torelease a ball from the chute onto the tee, for presenting the releasedball for striking above ground level when the carriage reaches the upperlimit of carriage travel at the end of a cycle; abutment means carriedby the carriage; a said ball release means comprising a pair of plungersprojectable through openings in the delivery chute spaced apartlengthwise of the chute a distance approximating the diametral dimensionof a ball, a pair of elongate arms each carrying a plunger, said armseach having an end rockable upon a stationary pivot, and each having anopposite free end disposed alongside the carriage guiding means in closeproximity thereto, said free ends being movable in the path of travel ofthe abutment means on the carriage, one above and one beneath saidabutment means for concurrently projecting one plunger from the chuteduring descent of the carriage to its lower limit of travel, thereby torelease a leading ball from the chute onto the tee while obstructingtravel of a ball following the leading ball; and means constantlyyieldingly urging the free ends of said arms toward said abutment meanson the carriage.

9. The device as specified by claim 8, wherein the abutment means on thecarriage comprises a freely rotatable roller mounted upon a studextended laterally from the carriage.

10. An automatic golf ball teeing device, which comprises incombination: a magazine for golf balls, and a chute for delivering ballsfrom the magazine; a ball elevator disposable below ground level,including a carriage reciprocable between upper and lower limits, andmeans for guiding the carriage in said movements; a laterallydisplaceable ball tee mounted upon the carriage for movement tolocations above and below ground level; a normally open-circuitedelectrical contactor associated with the tee, to be closed-circuitedmomentarily upon momentary lateral displacement of the tee; a firstelectric circuit including a driving motor and a self-closing switch inseries connection, said switch including an actuator to be depressed foropening the contacts of said switch; a shaft rotatable by said motor,and an arm rotatable with said shaft through 360 degrees of movement;means shiftably supporting the self-closing switch actuator for movementfrom a normal position within the path of movement of the motor-drivenarm, to a displaced position out of said path of movement; a secondelectric circuit including an electromagnetic means in series connectionwith the electrical contactor of the tee, said electromagnetic meansincluding an armature energizable through said electrical contactor uponmomentary lateral displacement of the tee, for momentarily displacingthe actuator of the selfclosing switch from the path of movement of thearm, causing said self-closing switch to close the motor circuitthroughout the 360 degree movement of the arm driven by the motor shaft,until said arm subsequently depresses the switch actuator to open thecontacts thereof and deenergize the motor, and a flexible cable havingan end secured t0 the carriage and reciprocable longitudinallytherewith, said cable having an opposite end driven in correspondencywith movements of said arm to impart reciprocative movements to saidcarriage between the upper and lower limits aforesaid.

11. The device as specified by claim 10, wherein the combinationincludes release means for relasing a ball onto the tee from saiddelivery chute, upon disposition of the carriage to approximately thelower limit of carriage travel.

12. The device as specified by claim 10, wherein the combinationincludes release means for releasing a ball onto the tee from saiddelivery chute; and means including a member carried by the carriage,for actuating the ball release means to release a ball upon dispositionof the carriage to approximately its lower limit of travel.

13. The device as specified by claim 10, wherein the ball release meansincludes: a pair of plungers projectable through openings in thedelivery chute spaced apart lengthwise of the chute a distanceapproximating the diametral dimension of a ball, movable meanssupporting said plungers, and abutment means carried by the carriage foractuating said movable means to project one plunger into the chute, andto withdraw the other plunger from the chute during descent of thecarriage, thereby to release a leading ball from the chute onto the teewhile obstructing travel of a ball following the leading ball.

14. The device as specified by claim 13, wherein the movable meanssupporting the plungers comprises a pair of elongate arms each carryingone of the plungers, said arms each having an end rockable upon astationary pivot, and each having an opposite free end disposedalongside the carriage guiding means in close proximity thereto, saidfree ends being movable in the path of travel of the abutment means onthe carriage, one above and one beneath said abutment means; and meansconstantly yieldingly urging the free ends of the arms toward saidabutment means on the carriage.

15. The device as specified by claim 14, wherein said abutment meanscomprises a roller mounted upon a stud extended laterally from thecarriage, the stud being fixed upon the carriage for bodily movementtherewith.

16. The device as specified by claim 10, wherein the end of the flexiblecable secured to the carriage is disposed below ground level, and theopposite driven end of said cable is disposed above ground level.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,952,113 3/1934 Beckett 273-2012,335,280 11/1943 Hogeberg 273201 3,298,694 l/ 1967 Turnau et al 273-201RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner T. BROWN, Assistant Examiner

